Scan barcode
shxlby98's review
3.0
Not the read I was expecting but it was okay. Didn’t wow me until the end when it was revealed how the characters connected
lazygal's review
5.0
Maybe it's because I'm old enough to remember the book/movie about the Amityville Horror (really: it's a true story) but I liked this take on the theme. No, there was nothing "new" in terms of what happens, right down to the blood/sludge coming out of the tap or the "window eyes", but that doesn't matter. The sense of menace and horror is less than the earlier book but then, this is YA not adult. My only quibble is that if this is set in Massachusetts, there's no "downstate" (mentioned several times as the origin of Connor's family). But beyond that, it's all good.
I can imagine pairing the two and getting teens to talk about the differences, and what they prefer (or dislike) about each.
ARC provided by publisher.
I can imagine pairing the two and getting teens to talk about the differences, and what they prefer (or dislike) about each.
ARC provided by publisher.
thepaperreels's review against another edition
3.0
YOU CAN ALSO READ MY REVIEW HERE.
I don't know why I haven't heard of this classic movie/novel called Amityille before (actually I know) but apparently, this is where the novel was based from. I haven't read it, and I honestly don't plan on reading it. (Unless, is it good?)
I really want to LOVE this The book wasn't bad. It's just, it's... slightly boring. Is boring bad? All I know is that it doesn't deserve a 2 or 1 star from ME.
Here's the gist. Two Families. 10 years gap. One house that somehow conects their story.
It's a past and present narration. Connor's POV in the past and Gwen's POV in present. And like I said, their stories are intertwined.
Look/read that blurb. Do you understand why I do not want to just ignore this book? Even though I'm not a big fan of Horror genre, I cannot miss that storyline. The first time I've read it, I was instantly intrigued and I just know that I have to read it. There were chapters where I got goosebumps. There was even some chapters where I have to stop because every darn noise in my environment is making me jump. I know, I know... I'M A SCAREDY CAT. The writing is unbelievably vivid. You want the bloody, gory details? You're gonna get that! You want to be inside a strange and slightly disturbed character? You're gonna get that as well. The author doesn't hold back when it comes to details.
The storyline really appealed to me and from the first few chapters, I was scared and excited. I was actually excited to be scared! Does that even make sense. Anyway, the first part were captivating. Creepy phonecalls and all that. Seeing people who were really not there and all that. And then, I don't know what happened, but it became dull. The author has this thing. She's doing little things that will get you excited for what will happen in the next chapter and then... and then... when you FINALLY get to that chapter where you will SCREAM...
flop.
meh.
Intriguing plotline and Creative writing, what's not to like? I'll tell you what. The characters. They're not annoying or frustrating or anything like that. Honestly, they are not anything at all. They're too... bland. Weak, if you ask me. Not powerful enough to keep me interested. I did not even connect, to any of them, even for a second. Like I mentioned above, they are kind of disturbing and strange but I don't know about you, but that is not an excuse. I'm actually a little strange too, so.. I wonder why. Maybe because I'm the good and adorable (lol, who's gonna compliment me but me) kind of strange.
Amity lacked... something. I didn't get the trembling and creepy read that I was expecting BUT I was enthralled at some parts. Amity may have boring characters and I may have struggled because of it, but the storytelling was a little spine chilling. If you're one of those people who LOVE scary and creepy stuff, maybe you should just hold off reading this. Because I'm pretty sure you'll just laugh at this. But if you're like me who get scared easily, like even your own shadow scares you, then have at it!
I don't know why I haven't heard of this classic movie/novel called Amityille before (actually I know) but apparently, this is where the novel was based from. I haven't read it, and I honestly don't plan on reading it. (Unless, is it good?)
I really want to LOVE this The book wasn't bad. It's just, it's... slightly boring. Is boring bad? All I know is that it doesn't deserve a 2 or 1 star from ME.
Here's the gist. Two Families. 10 years gap. One house that somehow conects their story.
It's a past and present narration. Connor's POV in the past and Gwen's POV in present. And like I said, their stories are intertwined.
Look/read that blurb. Do you understand why I do not want to just ignore this book? Even though I'm not a big fan of Horror genre, I cannot miss that storyline. The first time I've read it, I was instantly intrigued and I just know that I have to read it. There were chapters where I got goosebumps. There was even some chapters where I have to stop because every darn noise in my environment is making me jump. I know, I know... I'M A SCAREDY CAT. The writing is unbelievably vivid. You want the bloody, gory details? You're gonna get that! You want to be inside a strange and slightly disturbed character? You're gonna get that as well. The author doesn't hold back when it comes to details.
The storyline really appealed to me and from the first few chapters, I was scared and excited. I was actually excited to be scared! Does that even make sense. Anyway, the first part were captivating. Creepy phonecalls and all that. Seeing people who were really not there and all that. And then, I don't know what happened, but it became dull. The author has this thing. She's doing little things that will get you excited for what will happen in the next chapter and then... and then... when you FINALLY get to that chapter where you will SCREAM...
flop.
meh.
Intriguing plotline and Creative writing, what's not to like? I'll tell you what. The characters. They're not annoying or frustrating or anything like that. Honestly, they are not anything at all. They're too... bland. Weak, if you ask me. Not powerful enough to keep me interested. I did not even connect, to any of them, even for a second. Like I mentioned above, they are kind of disturbing and strange but I don't know about you, but that is not an excuse. I'm actually a little strange too, so.. I wonder why. Maybe because I'm the good and adorable (lol, who's gonna compliment me but me) kind of strange.
Amity lacked... something. I didn't get the trembling and creepy read that I was expecting BUT I was enthralled at some parts. Amity may have boring characters and I may have struggled because of it, but the storytelling was a little spine chilling. If you're one of those people who LOVE scary and creepy stuff, maybe you should just hold off reading this. Because I'm pretty sure you'll just laugh at this. But if you're like me who get scared easily, like even your own shadow scares you, then have at it!
jbojkov's review
4.0
Good, creepy read. Not intensely scary, but tense and edge-of-seat reading sometimes. Definitely gory though- don't read this one while you eat. Set in the infamous Amity house of the Amityville Horror book and film. I think the author did her homework based on what I read about the original case. She incorporates many of the claims made by the family who inhabited the home, but was driven out by supernatural activity. Good spooky read for teens.
lulustjames's review
2.0
Well, it seems in doing the RIP IX challenge this October, I am destined to teeter between the good and the bad of horror novels. Last week, we had the really great Darkness. This week, we have the not so great Amity. I should begin by saying that the low, two star rating has more to do with my expectations going into the book, rather than the book itself. Unfair? Possibly, but when you work at creating a tie between your story and an actual, well known story/urban myth, then you open yourself up to be judged by these expectations.
Amity features alternating point-of-view chapters, the first focused on child sociopath Connor, who moves into Amity with his family ten years before our second narrator, Gwen. Through their shared experiences, we uncover the secrets of the Amity house, yet its nothing new or exciting or horrifying. Most of the alternating chapters are simply regurgitating what the previous one touched upon. If we had seen it through a different angle, it would have made more sense. But we don’t. We see Connor having nightmares that wake him at 3:14am, we then see Gwen having nightmares at 3:14am. Connor sees a strange creature going into the boat house in the middle of the night. Following chapter, Gwen sees a strange creature going into the boat house in the middle of the night. There are differences between the narratives at times, but they are few and far between.
Then, there’s the horror, or lack of, in Amity. We hear about all of these things that have poisoned the earth at Amity, have created such a toxic and evil environment that it infects all of its inhabitants forever. But we never see it. The only “scary” things we see are the swarm of flies/wasps that attack on one occasion, the possible cryptid sighting, animal corpses, one attempted drowning, and one allusion to familicide. Yes, it’s meant to be a young adult book, but there is so much more that could be done within the confines of that age group that weren’t. The setting, which at first seemed ominous, just grew boring by the end of the first third of the book. Maybe young tweens might like the book and find it scary, but above twelve, I find it hard to believe readers haven’t been exposed to better horror in either literature or cinema.
/I received this title for free in exchange for an honest review/
Amity features alternating point-of-view chapters, the first focused on child sociopath Connor, who moves into Amity with his family ten years before our second narrator, Gwen. Through their shared experiences, we uncover the secrets of the Amity house, yet its nothing new or exciting or horrifying. Most of the alternating chapters are simply regurgitating what the previous one touched upon. If we had seen it through a different angle, it would have made more sense. But we don’t. We see Connor having nightmares that wake him at 3:14am, we then see Gwen having nightmares at 3:14am. Connor sees a strange creature going into the boat house in the middle of the night. Following chapter, Gwen sees a strange creature going into the boat house in the middle of the night. There are differences between the narratives at times, but they are few and far between.
Then, there’s the horror, or lack of, in Amity. We hear about all of these things that have poisoned the earth at Amity, have created such a toxic and evil environment that it infects all of its inhabitants forever. But we never see it. The only “scary” things we see are the swarm of flies/wasps that attack on one occasion, the possible cryptid sighting, animal corpses, one attempted drowning, and one allusion to familicide. Yes, it’s meant to be a young adult book, but there is so much more that could be done within the confines of that age group that weren’t. The setting, which at first seemed ominous, just grew boring by the end of the first third of the book. Maybe young tweens might like the book and find it scary, but above twelve, I find it hard to believe readers haven’t been exposed to better horror in either literature or cinema.
/I received this title for free in exchange for an honest review/
ashtheaudiomancer's review
4.0
A very satisfying find, this one! You can kinda tell where the story's going if you know anything about the classic "true story" (nah, it's a hoax, but still plenty creepy) that inspired it, but it's a worthy homage all the same. Very cool. I'm a little disappointed the house on the cover doesn't have those iconic attic windows, but it's a minor complaint.
adunnells's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0